Start with a legal notice to the Indian party backed by the contract, proforma invoice, SWIFT records and correspondence. If it fails, file a commercial suit, a summary suit for a fixed sum, start arbitration if the contract allows, or use insolvency proceedings against a company owing more than ₹1 crore. Where there was deliberate deception, a criminal complaint for cheating may also be filed.
- Document route
- Nigerian notary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, then Indian mission attestation
- Time difference
- IST is 4h30 ahead of Nigeria all year (no daylight saving)
- Cheque cases
- Section 138, NI Act 1881
- Civil suit
- Order XXXVII CPC
Money Recovery from India from Nigeria: how it works
We collect the evidence from Nigeria: the contract or purchase order, proforma invoice, bank transfer confirmations, emails and WhatsApp messages, and any shipping documents. The documents are certified and attested for use in India. We verify the Indian party's registration, directors and address through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs portal and GST records, then send a legal notice. Many established suppliers settle at this stage to protect their export business.
If the notice fails, we choose the forum. Commercial suits require pre-institution mediation for most claims; summary suits under Order XXXVII suit fixed sums under written contracts; arbitration follows the contract clause. Where the supplier was a front with no real business, we consider a complaint for cheating under section 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly section 420 IPC), alongside steps to trace and freeze the receiving bank account. Criminal law cannot be used for an ordinary contractual dispute, so we assess the facts carefully first.
What clients in Nigeria should know
- Limitation for most money claims in India is three years from default; negotiations do not stop the clock.
- A plaint can be verified by an affidavit signed in Nigeria and attested, so the claimant need not travel to file.
- Recovery against an individual with no assets in India is difficult; check the supplier's assets before investing heavily in litigation.
Step by step from Nigeria
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Nigeria, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Nigeria
Nigerian notary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, then Indian mission attestation
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Nigeria where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Nigeria. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Money Recovery from India, or see all services for clients in Nigeria and the Disputes & Enforcement practice area.
Questions from clients in Nigeria
Can I recover money from India without travelling from Lagos?
Yes. Documents are signed and attested in Nigeria, and your Indian advocate files and appears.
How long will recovery take?
A legal notice may resolve it in weeks. Contested suits take one to three years; insolvency and summary suits can be faster.
Is a police complaint better than a civil suit?
Only where there was fraud from the start. For a genuine supplier who defaulted, civil remedies are usually more effective.